I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2675 

To provide for a Department of Veterans Affairs policy on medicinal cannabis, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 10, 2019 

Mr. MOULTON (for himself, Mr. GAETZ, Mr. SOTO, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, 

and Mr. CRIST) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To provide for a Department of Veterans Affairs policy on 

medicinal cannabis, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Department of Vet5 erans Affairs Policy for Medicinal Cannabis Use Act of 

6 2019’’. 

7 SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICY ON 

8 MEDICINAL CANNABIS. 

9 (a) POLICY.—The policy of the Department of Vet10 erans Affairs on medicinal cannabis is as follows: 


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1 (1) Veterans are encouraged to discuss their 

2 medicinal cannabis use with their health care pro3 viders without fear of negative repercussions. 

4 (2) Veterans shall not be denied any benefit 

5 under the laws administered by the Secretary of Vet6 erans Affairs by reason of cannabis use. 

7 (3) The participation of a veteran in a State8 legal marijuana program shall not affect the vet9 eran’s eligibility for care and services furnished by 

10 the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

11 (4) The use or possession of cannabis is prohib12 ited on all Department property and in all Depart13 ment facilities pursuant to Federal law, which ap14 plies at such locations and not the laws of the State 

15 where the property or facility is located. 

16 (5) Department medical providers shall honor 

17 the desires of their patients to seek alternative forms 

18 of treatment. 

19 (6) The Department of Veterans Affairs ac20 knowledges medicinal cannabis use may be a legiti21 mate alternative treatment and a Department med22 ical provider will not recommend a veteran for drug 

23 addiction treatment solely by reason of medicinal 

24 cannabis use. 


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1 (7) Department medical providers are permitted 

2 to discuss cannabis use as part of comprehensive 

3 care planning and may adjust treatment plans as 

4 necessary. Treatment adjustment should be relevant 

5 and a veteran should have the freedom to seek a sec6 ond opinion if the veteran feels the change is not 

7 fair. 

8 (8) Department medical providers will annotate 

9 a veteran’s cannabis use in the medical record of the 

10 veteran in order to have the information available in 

11 treatment planning. As with all clinical information, 

12 this is part of the confidential medical record and 

13 protected under patient privacy and confidentiality 

14 laws and regulations. Department medical providers 

15 will not record that a patient has a marijuana addic16 tion problem in their medical record if the patient is 

17 responsibly using medicinal cannabis. 

18 (9) Department clinicians shall follow Federal 

19 laws and regulations relating to medicinal cannabis. 

20 (10) Department medical providers may not be 

21 fired nor have any other adverse personnel action 

22 taken against them for discussing cannabis use with 

23 their patients. 


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1 (11) Department scientists may conduct re2 search on cannabis benefits and risks under regu3 latory approval. 

4 (12) Department medical providers may not 

5 dissuade participation in non-Department medicinal 

6 cannabis research. 

7 (b) DISSEMINATION OF POLICY.—The Secretary of 

8 Veterans Affairs shall disseminate the policy under sub9 section (a) widely, including by displaying such policy 

10 prominently in all Department of Veterans Affairs hos11 pitals and clinics and online. 

12 (c) REPEAL IN EVENT OF FEDERAL LEGALIZA13 TION.—If the use of medicinal cannabis becomes legal 

14 under Federal law, the requirement under subsection 

15 (a)(4) shall be repealed. 

Æ 


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